System, cartridge, beverage preparation unit and method for producing a beverage

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a system for producing a beverage, in particular a cold beverage, comprising a cartridge that has a reservoir filled with a beverage substance, a beverage preparation unit with a cartridge receptacle into which the cartridge can be reversibly inserted, and a cartridge discharge device which causes at least partial transfer of the beverage substance from the reservoir into a mixing chamber; furthermore, the beverage preparation unit comprises a fluid supply which opens into the mixing chamber, or the system includes a movable plunger which is placed inside the reservoir and can be transferred from a starting position into a final position by means of the cartridge discharge device.

BACKGROUND

The present invention proceeds from a system for producing a beverage,more particularly a cold beverage, comprising a cartridge which has areservoir filled with a beverage substance, and a beverage preparationunit with a cartridge receptacle into which the cartridge can bereversibly inserted, and with a cartridge discharge device which causesat least partial transfer of the beverage substance from the reservoirinto a mixing chamber.

Systems of this kind are fundamentally known from the prior art, by wayof example from WO 2013/036564 A2 and WO 2005/079361 A2, and are usedfor the preparation of beverages from pre-portioned cartridges. Thepreparation of beverages with such systems is extremely convenient forthe user since he has only to insert a cartridge and press a startbutton. The beverage preparation unit then produces the beverage fullyautomatically, that is, more particularly the beverage substance ismixed with a predetermined amount of liquid, more particularly coldcarbonated water and directed into a drinking vessel. It is thenparticularly easy for the user to rapidly produce mixed drinks in thisway with little effort. The user can then make a selection from aplurality of different cartridges so that he can produce differentbeverages according to his preferred choice.

A great challenge in the case of such systems is that of safely andcompletely preventing recontamination of the beverage preparation unitduring production of the beverage since otherwise there is the risk ofcontamination or even mold forming inside the beverage preparation unit.This particularly applies for cartridges containing fruit juice,alcoholic or milky beverage substances.

With the systems known from the prior art the cartridge is normallyinserted into the cartridge receptacle and the cartridge is opened onboth sides, i.e. on an inlet side and an outlet side. Then water isintroduced into the cartridge on the inlet side by means of a liquidsupply so that the beverage is formed by mixing the beverage substancewith the water already inside the reservoir in the cartridge. Thebeverage leaves the cartridge on the outlet side and is directed to adrinking vessel. The water flows completely through the reservoir hereand thus causes the beverage substance to flow out from the reservoir.It has been seen that when introducing water directly into the reservoirfilled with the beverage substance a recontamination of the supplycannot be entirely prevented because the reservoir is normallycompletely filled with the beverage substance and a rise in pressuretakes place as a result in the reservoir when water is introduced. Boththis rise in pressure in the reservoir and also the flushing through ofthe reservoir ensures that during and/or shortly after the beverageproduction very small drops, particles and/or suspended solids of thebeverage substance pass into the liquid supply and lead to a continuouscontamination thereof.

SUMMARY

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a systemfor the production of a beverage of the type already mentioned, whereinrecontamination of the beverage preparation unit is actively preventedand which can be implemented in the simplest and most commerciallyviable manner possible.

This object is achieved by a system for the production of a beverage,more particularly a cold beverage, which comprises a cartridge which hasa reservoir filled with a beverage substance, and a beverage preparationunit with a cartridge receptacle in which the cartridge can bereversibly inserted, and a cartridge discharge device which causes atleast partial transfer of the beverage substance from the reservoir intoa mixing chamber, wherein the beverage preparation unit furthermore hasa liquid supply which opens into the mixing chamber.

Compared with the prior art the system according to the invention hasthe advantage that the liquid supply does not open into the reservoir ofthe cartridge but into the mixing chamber. This effectively and simplyprevents in a commercially viable manner an excessively high or even anexcessive pressure from building up in the reservoir. The reservoir isalso not (completely) flushed through by the liquid but the system isconfigured in such a way that the beverage substance and the liquid passseparately from one another into the mixing chamber. The liquidaccordingly passes into the mixing chamber independently of thereservoir. It could also be said that the reservoir is “by-passed” bythe liquid supply. It has been shown that recontamination of thebeverage preparation unit is hereby prevented in a way which is clearlymore effective compared with the prior art.

A further subject or a preferred embodiment of the present invention forattaining the above-stated object is a system for the production of abeverage, more particularly a cold beverage, having a cartridge whichhas a reservoir filled with a beverage substance, and a beveragepreparation unit with a cartridge receptacle in which the cartridge canbe reversibly inserted, and a cartridge discharge device which causes atleast partial transfer of the beverage substance from the reservoir intoa mixing chamber, wherein the system has a movable plunger which isarranged inside the reservoir and can be transferred from a startingposition into a final position by means of the cartridge dischargedevice.

According to the invention the cartridge discharge device in the form ofthe movable plunger is used to transfer the beverage substance from thereservoir into the mixing chamber whereby the plunger is moved from thestarting position into the final position. The system according to theinvention has the advantage compared to the prior art that the liquidwhich is introduced to create the beverage and is mixed with thebeverage substance is not also used for transferring the beveragesubstance, as is the case with the prior art. This overcomes the risk ofrecontaminating the beverage preparation unit and more particularly theliquid supply. More particularly the movable plunger is part of thecartridge so that when transferring the beverage substance into themixing chamber no parts of the beverage preparation unit come intocontact with the beverage substance.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention itis proposed that the plunger is arranged in the starting position closeto the input side and wherein the plunger is displaced in the finalposition towards the output side. In this way practically the entireamount of the beverage substance can be pressed out from the reservoirby moving the plunger from the starting position into the finalposition. The plunger is here preferably arranged permanently in thereservoir as part of the cartridge. Alternatively, it would obviouslyalso be possible that the plunger can be inserted as part of thecartridge discharge device into the reservoir after the cartridge hasbeen inserted into the beverage preparation unit. The reservoirpreferably comprises a cavity defined by a cylindrical wall wherein theplunger comprises a circular external contour whose outer diametercorresponds approximately to or is only slightly smaller than the innerdiameter of the cylindrical wall. The plunger preferably comprises asealing device, more particularly in the form of a flexiblecircumferential sealing lip, which seals off a narrow gap (produced fromthe difference between the inner diameter of the cylindrical wall andthe outer diameter of the plunger) between a wall of the reservoir andthe plunger. It is conceivable that the sealing lip is made from areversibly elastic material whereby the sealing lip clings sealinglyagainst the inner side of the wall. By way of example the sealing lipcomprises an elastomer, natural rubber, neoprene, rubber, polyurethane,soft PVC (polyvinyl chloride with up to 40% plasticizer), or the like.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention itis proposed that the cartridge discharge device comprises a movable ramwhich can be inserted into the cartridge on an input side of thecartridge in order to press the beverage substance out from thecartridge on an output side of the cartridge. The cartridge-side end ofthe ram is then preferably provided for interaction with the plungerarranged in the cartridge in such a way that when inserting the ram intothe cartridge the ram strikes the plunger located in the startingposition which is then moved by the ram into the final position.Advantageously the beverage substance is thus transferred from thereservoir into the mixing chamber without the ram coming into contactwith the beverage substance. The ram can thus be part of the beveragepreparation unit and can be re-used whilst the contaminated plunger ispart of the cartridge and is thus replaced when changing the cartridge.Recontamination of the beverage preparation unit is thus effectivelyprevented. The ram is more particularly drawn back and out from thecartridge again before removing the spent cartridge from the beveragepreparation unit.

Alternatively, it would in principle also be possible that thecartridge-side end of the ram comprises the plunger. In this case theplunger would be part of the beverage preparation unit and not of thecartridge. This solution is however less preferred owing to the risk ofrecontamination. On the other hand, however, this solution is morecommercially viable to implement since the plunger then does notrepresent a disposable product here.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention itis proposed that the cartridge has in the region of the insert side asealing element which is opened by inserting the plunger, wherein moreparticularly the sealing element comprises a sealing film which tears asthe plunger is inserted. The sealing element preferably ensures that thereservoir is hermetically sealed at least prior to insertion into thebeverage preparation unit so that no beverage substance can escape andthe aroma of the beverage substance remains during storage and transportof the cartridge. The sealing film is preferably arranged in such a waythat the plunger is arranged in the starting position between thesealing element and the beverage substance so that the sealing film istorn away by the ram as the ram is introduced. The cartridge ispreferably automatically opened on its input side by inserting the ram.It would however also be conceivable that the sealing film is arrangedbetween the plunger arranged in the starting position, and the beveragesubstance so that the sealing film is torn away by the moving plunger asthe ram is inserted.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention itis proposed that the beverage preparation unit has a guiding unit forthe motor-driven insertion of the ram into the cartridge, wherein theguiding unit for the ram comprises a straight or curved guide elementfor inserting the ram, and wherein the guiding unit has an electriclinear motor. The ram can thus advantageously be introduced into thecartridge in a motor-driven manner. In this case the user need onlytrigger insertion by means of a press button or the like. The use of acurved guide element has the advantage that the structural height of theguiding unit can be reduced. In this case the ram preferably has aflexible structure. Otherwise it is formed rigid or semi-rigid. Theelectric linear motor preferably comprises a pinion which sits on adrive shaft of an electric motor (by way of example a three-phaseasynchronous machine or a three-phase synchronous machine) and engagesin a gear rack, wherein the gear rack is coupled to the ram or isalready part of the ram. By rotating the pinion, the gear rack is movedand thus the ram is driven into the cartridge or is moved out from thecartridge. It is also conceivable as an alternative that theaforementioned electric drive comprises an electric-motorized spindledrive, wherein a spindle is moved in translation by means of a pinion,wherein the spindle is coupled to the ram or is already part of the ram.Alternatively, the electric linear motor comprises a solenoid linearmotor. Those skilled in the art know that a hydraulic linear motor couldalso be used in place of the electric linear motor.

Alternatively, it is proposed that the cartridge discharge devicecomprises a compressed air source for blowing compressed air into thereservoir on an input side of the cartridge, wherein the system isdesigned more particularly in such a way that the beverage substance ispressed directly out of the reservoir by the compressed air, or that theplunger is moved by the compressed air from the starting position intothe final position. Instead of the aforementioned solution with anelectric or hydraulic linear motor, it is thus also conceivable to pressthe beverage substance out from the reservoir into the mixing chamberdirectly by means of compressed air (the compressed air is introducedhere on the input side directly into the reservoir which is not providedwith a plunger) or indirectly for this to transfer the plunger from thestarting position into the final position by means of compressed air(the compressed air is introduced here on the input side into thereservoir, namely above the plunger). In both variations the risk ofrecontamination is advantageously reduced most of all by usingcompressed air (more particularly instead of the ram). It is conceivablethat the beverage preparation unit is equipped here with a compressedair cartridge which is changed when necessary. It would also beconceivable alternatively that the beverage preparation unit is fittedwith a corresponding compressor to produce compressed air. In the eventthat the beverage preparation unit has in any case a carbonator whichcomprises a CO₂ cartridge, this CO₂ cartridge is preferably usedsimultaneously, also as a compressed air source for the cartridgedischarge device.

As an alternative to using compressed air it is also possible to use anegative pressure. With this alternative embodiment the cartridgedischarge device has a negative pressure device for drawing the beveragesubstance out from the reservoir by means of a vacuum, wherein thesystem is configured more particularly in such a way that the beveragesubstance is sucked by the vacuum directly out from the reservoir orthat the plunger is transferred from the starting position to the finalposition by means of the vacuum.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention itis proposed that the mixing chamber has a beverage outlet through whichthe beverage formed by mixing the beverage substance with the liquid isdischarged, wherein the system is preferably configured in such a waythat the beverage can be introduced from the beverage outlet directlyinto a portable vessel. Thus advantageously neither the beveragesubstance nor the finished beverage mixed in the mixing chamber passesinto contact with further parts of the beverage preparation unit so thatrecontamination is prevented. This is particularly the case when themixing chamber is part of the cartridge and thus is changed as areplacement product after each beverage production process.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention itis proposed that the liquid supply is fed with liquid which is cooled bya cooling unit, wherein the cooling unit is part of the beveragepreparation unit or of a separate refrigerator which is in activeconnection with the beverage preparation unit. Advantageously, coldbeverages can thus be prepared even when the cartridge is not cooled andis by way of example at room temperature. The integration of the systemin an existing refrigerator has the advantage that the existing coolingunit of the refrigerator can be easily used efficiently for the beveragepreparation unit as well. Particularly in the case of so-called“side-by-side” refrigerators (often also called American-stylerefrigerators) there is sufficient structural space in the front forintegrating the system. It is conceivable that the beverage reparationunit is an accessory set for a refrigerator of this kind. The coolingunit preferably comprises a compressor cooling unit, an absorber coolingunit or a thermo-electric chiller.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention itis proposed that the liquid supply is fed with liquid which is admixedwith carbon dioxide by a carbonator. More advantageously it is thus alsopossible with the system to produce soft drinks admixed with carbondioxide. The carbonator is preferably part of the beverage preparationunit, wherein the carbonator more particularly has a receptacle for aCO₂ cartridge and a supply device for admixing the liquid with CO₂ fromthe CO₂ cartridge.

According to a further particularly preferred embodiment of the presentinvention it is proposed that the mixing chamber is formed as part ofthe replaceable cartridge. In this way contamination of the beveragepreparation unit by the beverage substance is effectively avoidedbecause only parts of the replaceable single-use cartridge come intocontact with the beverage substance. A further sealing element ispreferably arranged between the reservoir and the mixing chamber and isopened on inserting the cartridge into the cartridge receptacle or onactivating the cartridge discharge device. The further sealing elementserves to close the cartridge on the output side during transport orstorage in an aroma-sealed manner. The cartridge is more particularlyclosed aroma-sealed on the input side by the sealing element describedfurther above, so that the reservoir is closed completely aroma-sealedprior to inserting the cartridge into the cartridge receptacle and moreparticularly prior to the start of the beverage preparation processwhereby the cartridge can have by way of example a long shelf life. Itis conceivable that the further sealing element comprises a sealing filmwhich is opened, and more particularly torn, through a rise in pressurein the reservoir as the plunger is moved from the starting position intothe final position. More advantageously with this system the furthersealing element is opened automatically during production of thebeverage.

The mixing chamber which is formed as part of the cartridge preferablyhas a quick-fit coupling to connect the mixing chamber with the liquidsupply when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge receptacle. Inthis way the mixing chamber is brought automatically into liquidconnection with the liquid supply during insertion. The quick-fitcoupling more particularly has a coupling pipe and a coupling socketwhich receives the coupling pipe in the coupled state, wherein thecoupling pipe and/or the coupling socket comprises a seal and/or whereinin the coupled state the coupling pipe snap-fits into the couplingsocket and/or wherein the coupling pipe is part of the beveragepreparation unit and the coupling socket is part of the mixing chamber.It is conceivable that the quick-fit coupling comprises a plug-inconnector, mono coupler, multicoupler, clean break coupling, closurecoupling, through coupling and/or passage coupling.

According to a further particularly preferred embodiment of the presentinvention it is proposed that the cartridge receptacle has aform-fitting element which receives the cartridge in form-fittingmanner, wherein the cartridge is preferably held additionally inforce-fitting manner in the cartridge receptacle. It is conceivable byway of example that the form-fitting element comprises at least onespring element and/or detent element which is compressed and/or engagedby inserting the cartridge into the cartridge receptacle, wherein thecartridge receptacle preferably has a lead-in chamfer and/or apositioning aid. The cartridge receptacle preferably has an upperform-fitting element which holds the cartridge in the region of itsinput side, and a lower form-fitting element which holds the cartridgein the region of the output side and/or the mixing chamber.

The cartridge receptacle is preferably configured so that the cartridgecan have between the upper form-fitting element and the lowerform-fitting element a diameter which is greater than or smaller thanthe diameter in the region of the upper and lower form-fitting elements.In this way cartridges can be used which have different geometricconfigurations at least in an intermediate region, i.e. in those regionsin which the upper and lower form-fitting elements do not engage. Thus,cartridges with reservoirs of different volumes can more particularly beused. By way of example cartridges for spirit-containing beverages canbe prepared with smaller amounts of beverage substance than foralcohol-free, caffeine-containing and carbonated soft drinks.

The person skilled in the art understands that the mixing chamber couldalso alternatively be part of the beverage preparation unit. In thisscenario the mixing chamber would have to be flushed through with waterafter the production of each beverage so that no residues of thebeverage substance remain in the mixing chamber.

According to a further particularly preferred embodiment of the presentinvention it is proposed that a screen element is arranged inside thecartridge on which the cartridge discharge device acts in order totransfer the beverage substance from the reservoir into the mixingchamber, wherein the screen element is arranged between the cartridgedischarge device and the beverage substance. Advantageously thecartridge discharge device is insulated from the beverage substance bymeans of the screen element so that there can be no recontamination ofthe beverage preparation machine via the cartridge discharge device. Inorder that it is nevertheless possible to empty the reservoir the screenelement has a flexible structure and is more particularly designed as abellows or soft bag element. The screen element is then always arrangedinside the reservoir, wherein the beverage substance is arranged insidethe bellows or the soft bag element. When the cartridge dischargedevice, thus more particularly the ram or compressed air act on thebellows or the bag element, the bellows collapses inside the reservoiror the bag element is compressed inside the reservoir so that thebeverage substance is transferred from the reservoir into the mixingchamber. In other words: the bellows or the soft bag element extend inthe starting position from the output side of the cartridge at leastpartially parallel to the cartridge wall up to the input side of thecartridge and are moved by the cartridge discharge device towards theoutput side during the beverage production process.

A further subject of the present invention for achieving the objectmentioned above is a cartridge for the system more especially accordingto the invention for producing a beverage, wherein the cartridge can beinserted into the cartridge receptacle of the beverage preparation unit,and wherein the cartridge has the reservoir which is filled with thebeverage substance. The reservoir is preferably filled with apre=portioned amount of beverage substance which is required forproducing one drink portion, by way of example a drinking glass filledwith the desired beverage. A drinking glass typically holds 0.1 liter,0.2 liter, 0.3 liter, 0.33 liter, 0.35 liter, 0.366 liter, 0.5 liter, or1 liter of liquid. More advantageously the user can easily createdifferent beverages by selecting a specific cartridge which contains thecorresponding beverage substance for creating the desired beverage,inserting it into the cartridge receptacle and starting the beverageproduction process on the beverage preparation unit. The beverage isthen made automatically, directed into a drinking vessel and thusprovided to the user. The spent cartridge is then removed and disposedof. Since recontamination of the beverage preparation unit within thesense according to the invention is avoided, there is thenadvantageously no need for flushing or rinsing before making a newbeverage with another flavor.

The beverage substance preferably comprises a liquid beverage substance,such as soft drinks, sweetened drinks, fruit juices, fruit nectars,fruit juice concentrates, fruit spritzers, lemonades, fizzy drinks,energy drinks, isotonic drinks, beer, mixed beer drinks, table water,fizzy drink, mineral waters, spirits, alcopops, fruit wine, vegetablejuices, vegetable nectars, sparkling wine, fruit sparkling wine,alcoholic mixed drinks, wine, wine spritzers, cocktails, coffee, tea,iced tea, milk, chocolate drinks, caffeinated, alcoholic, (fruit)sugar-containing and/or carbonated beverages and mixtures andmodifications thereof. It is also conceivable that the beveragesubstance more particularly only comprises fluid pre-mix ingredients forthe aforementioned beverages so that said beverages only arise when thepre-mix ingredients are mixed with water in the mixing chamber. It isalso conceivable that the beverage substance contains additionally orexclusively particulate substances, such as soluble powders, sherbetpowders or the like.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the presentinvention it is proposed that the cartridge has a plunger which isarranged in the reservoir and which can be transferred between astarting position close to an input side of the cartridge and a finalposition which is displaced from the input side towards an output side.In this way the beverage substance is conveyed from the reservoir intothe mixing chamber. The mixing chamber is preferably part of thecartridge and is more particularly arranged underneath the reservoirwhen the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge receptacle.

The plunger preferably has a sealing device, more particularly in theform of a flexible circumferential sealing lip which seals off a gapbetween a wall of the reservoir and the plunger.

The plunger preferably has a ram receptacle to receive a ram of thebeverage preparation unit, wherein the plunger is designed to betransferred from the starting position into the final position byinserting the ram into the reservoir so that the beverage substance isdirected out from the reservoir into a mixing chamber arranged in theliquid direction behind the reservoir and more particularly below thereservoir. The ram receptacle can be by way of example a funnel-shapedreceptacle, a depression, a protrusion or the like which centers the ramon the plunger and secures it from sliding sideways.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention it isproposed that the cartridge has in the region of the insert side asealing element which is opened by inserting the plunger, wherein moreparticularly the sealing element comprises a sealing film which is tornas the plunger is inserted. Between the reservoir and the mixing chamberthere is arranged a further sealing element which is opened duringinsertion of the cartridge into the cartridge receptacle or duringactivation of the cartridge discharge device. The further sealingelement too preferably comprises a sealing film which is opened and moreparticularly torn by a rise in pressure in the reservoir as the plungeris transferred from the starting position into the final position. Thesealing element and the further sealing element, as already described indetail above, serve to close the reservoir in an aroma-sealed mannerduring transport or storage.

The cartridge preferably has a mixing chamber which can be brought intoliquid connection with a liquid supply of the beverage preparation unit.The mixing chamber preferably comprises here a quick-fit coupling forconnecting the mixing chamber to the liquid supply when the cartridge isinserted into the cartridge receptacle.

The mixing chamber preferably has a beverage outlet through which thebeverage formed by mixing the beverage substance with the liquid isdispensed, wherein the system is preferably designed in such a way thatthe beverage can be directed from the beverage outlet directly into aportable vessel. Advantageously, neither the beverage substance nor thebeverage produced from the beverage substance in the mixing chamber thuspass into direct contact with a part of the beverage preparation unit sothat recontamination can be actively prevented.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention it isproposed that the cartridge has at least one connecting element whichduring insertion of the cartridge into the beverage preparation unitinteracts with the cartridge receptacle in order to hold the cartridgein the cartridge receptacle. It is conceivable that the connectingelement comprises an insert element which engages in a form-fittingelement, more particularly in the form of a spring and/or detent elementof the cartridge receptacle.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention it isproposed that the cartridge has an upper connecting element in theregion of the input side and a lower connecting element in the region ofthe output side and/or the mixing chamber. The cartridge preferably hasin an intermediate region between the input side and the output side adiameter which is larger than or smaller than the diameter of thecartridge in the region of the input side and/or the output side. Inthis way cartridges with reservoirs of different volumes can be insertedinto the cartridge receptacle. It is conceivable that the diameter ofthe cartridge in the region of the input side is substantially identicalwith the diameter of the cartridge in the region of the mixing chamberand/or the output side. Alternatively the diameter on the input side canhowever also be different from the diameter on the output side so that arotational lock is produced and correct insertion of the cartridge intothe cartridge receptacle is ensured.

The cartridge is preferably formed rotationally symmetrical along itslongitudinal axis so that insertion of the cartridge into the cartridgereceptacle is easier for the user.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention it isproposed that a screen element is arranged inside the cartridge, whereinthe screen element preferably comprises a bellows or a soft bag elementarranged inside the reservoir, wherein the beverage substance isarranged inside the bellows or the soft bag element. The bellows or thebag element consist more particularly of a fluid-impermeable and/orgas-impermeable foil. The bellows or the bag element are preferablyattached to the cartridge in the region of the output side of thecartridge.

A further subject of the present invention is a beverage preparationunit for the system more particularly according to the invention for thepreparation of a beverage, wherein the beverage preparation unit has thecartridge receptacle in which the cartridge more particularly accordingto the invention can be reversibly inserted, a cartridge dischargedevice which causes an at least partial transfer of the beveragesubstance from the reservoir into a mixing chamber, and the liquidsupply which opens into the mixing chamber.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention it isproposed that the cartridge discharge device comprises a movable ramwhich can be inserted on an input side of the cartridge into thecartridge in order to press the beverage substance out from thecartridge on an output side of the cartridge. The beverage preparationunit preferably has a guiding unit for the motor-driven supply of theram into the cartridge, wherein the guiding unit of the ram comprises astraight or curved guide element for inserting the ram, and wherein theguiding unit has an electric or hydraulic linear motor and moreparticularly a spindle drive.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention it isproposed that the beverage preparation unit comprises the mixingchamber, wherein the mixing chamber can be removed from the rest of thebeverage preparation unit. In this embodiment the mixing chamber is notpart of the cartridge but can be inserted separately from the cartridgeinto the beverage preparation unit and removed (for cleaning andmaintenance purposes). The mixing chamber can advantageously be usedmultiple times. It is conceivable that the beverage preparation unitwith an automatic rinsing and cleaning mechanism for cleaning the mixingchamber after each beverage production process or after a specificnumber of beverage production processes.

It is conceivable that the beverage preparation unit has a coolingsystem for cooling a liquid which is supplied to the liquid supply.

A further subject of the present invention is a method for theproduction of a beverage, more particularly with the system according tothe invention, comprising the following steps:

-   -   inserting a cartridge filled with a beverage substance into a        cartridge receptacle of a beverage preparation unit,    -   transferring the beverage substance from a reservoir of the        cartridge into a mixing chamber by means of a cartridge        discharge device,    -   supplying a liquid into the mixing chamber by means of a liquid        supply,    -   discharging the beverage produced in the mixing chamber by        mixing the beverage substance with the liquid, by means of a        beverage outlet.

The method according to the invention has, like the system according tothe invention described above, the advantage over the prior art thatrecontamination of the beverage preparation unit is substantiallyavoided since the liquid supplied for mixing with the beverage substanceis directed not into the reservoir but into the mixing chamber. Sincethe liquid is not used for transferring the beverage substance thebeverage substance is preferably pressed by a plunger out from thereservoir into the mixing chamber whereby the plunger is moved by meansof the cartridge discharge device from a starting position into a finalposition. It is conceivable that the plunger is moved here by means of acartridge discharge device in the form of a ram acting on the plunger orby compressed air. The ram is preferably inserted motor-driven into thecartridge by means of a guiding unit and then acts on the plunger inorder to move the plunger from the starting position into the finalposition.

It would also be conceivable as an alternative that the beveragesubstance is transferred from the reservoir into the mixing chamber bycompressed air or negative pressure

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention it isproposed that the liquid is cooled and/or carbonated prior to flowinginto the mixing chamber.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention itis proposed that during insertion of the ram into the cartridge asealing element sealing the cartridge is opened, wherein the sealingelement preferably comprises a sealing film which is torn by the ram. Itis conceivable that by transferring the beverage substance towards themixing chamber a further sealing element which between the reservoir andthe mixing chamber is opened, wherein the further sealing elementpreferably comprises a sealing film which is torn by the rise inpressure in the reservoir.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention itis proposed that the cartridge discharge device acts on a screen elementarranged inside the cartridge in order to transfer the beveragesubstance from the reservoir into the mixing chamber, wherein the screenelement is folded or compressed during this step.

Further details, features and advantages of the invention are apparentfrom the drawings, as well as from the following description ofpreferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. The drawingsillustrate embodiments of the invention given merely by way of exampleand do not restrict the essential inventive concept.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic sectional view of a system, a cartridge, abeverage

preparation unit and a method for the production of a beverage accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2a shows a detailed view of the cartridge according to the firstexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2b shows a detailed view of the beverage preparation unit accordingto the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2c shows a diagrammatic view in which the cartridge illustrated inFIG. 2a is inserted into the beverage preparation unit illustrated inFIG. 2 b;

FIG. 3 shows the system and the method for the production of a beverageaccording to an exemplary second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows the system and the method for the production of a beverageaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a system and a method for the production of a beverageaccording to an exemplary third embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 6 a, 6 b shows a system and a method for the production of abeverage according to an exemplary fourth embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 7 a, 7 b shows a system and a method for the production of abeverage according to an exemplary fifth embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the various FIGS. identical parts are always provided with the samereference numerals and are therefore generally only mentioned or listedonce.

FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic sectional view of a system 1 according tothe invention having according to the invention a cartridge 2 and abeverage preparation unit 3 according to the invention for theproduction of a beverage by means of a method according to the inventionaccording to an exemplary first embodiment of the present invention.

The present system 1 comprises the beverage preparation unit 3 in whichreplaceable cartridges 2 which are filled with a specific beveragesubstance 7 are insertable. A corresponding beverage is produced insidethe beverage preparation unit 3 by means of the beverage substance 7 andwhere applicable an additional water source. The cartridge 2 is thenpreferably filled with a pre-portioned amount of beverage substance 7which is required to produce a targeted drink portion, by way of examplea drinking glass filled with the desired beverage. There are inparticular a plurality of different cartridges 2 available which arefilled with different beverage substances 7 for producing differentbeverages. When the user of the system 1 would like to drink a specificbeverage he need only select from the plurality of different cartridges2 that cartridge 2 which contains the corresponding beverage substance 7to produce the desired beverage, insert it into a cartridge receptacle10 of the beverage preparation unit 3, and if appropriate start thebeverage production process on the beverage preparation unit 3, forexample by pressing a start button, suitably touching a touch-sensitivedisplay, through gesture or voice control or by means of a suitable appon a mobile telephone. It is also conceivable that the beverageproduction process is automatically controlled when the insertion of anew cartridge 2 into the cartridge receptacle 10 is recognized. In eachof the aforementioned cases the desired beverage is then producedautomatically, directed into a drinking vessel and thus provided to theuser. The spent cartridge 2 is then removed and disposed of. Thebeverage preparation unit 3 is then ready again to be filled with anydesired new cartridge 2 in order to produce a further beverage.

The beverage substance 7 preferably comprises liquid pre-mix ingredientsfor soft drinks, such as caffeinated, carbonated, fruit- and/orsugar-containing lemonades and juices, beer (mixed) beverages or otheralcoholic or non-alcoholic mixed beverages.

The cartridge 2 comprises a cylindrical container with an input side 4(arranged at the top in the drawing) and an output side 5 (arranged atthe bottom in the drawing). Inside the container the cartridge 2 has areservoir 6 which is filled with the liquid beverage substance 7. In theregion of the output side 5 the cartridge 2 has a mixing chamber 8 (i.e.the mixing chamber is here part of the cartridge 2) which is fixedlyconnected to the container. The reservoir 6 opens in this region into atransfer opening 9 through which the beverage substance can pass fromthe reservoir 6 into the mixing chamber 8. The base of the reservoir 6in the present example is funnel-shaped, wherein the transfer opening 9is arranged in the center of the funnel-shaped base. The transferopening 9 then runs into an optional short pipe member which protrudesinto the mixing chamber 8.

The mixing chamber 8 has a beverage outlet 11 through which the beverageproduced inside the mixing chamber 8 leaves the mixing chamber and ispassed more particularly directly into the drinking vessel (not shown),i.e. without parts of the beverage preparation unit 3 coming intocontact with the beverage. In this way recontamination of the beveragepreparation unit 3 is avoided. The drinking vessel is more particularlyarranged directly underneath the beverage outlet 11.

The mixing chamber 8 has a quick-fit coupling 26 with which the mixingchamber 8 can be attached to a liquid supply 12 of the beveragepreparation unit 3. The quick-fit coupling 26 is configured in such away that on inserting the cartridge 2 into the cartridge receptacle 10 aliquid connection is produced between the mixing chamber 8 and theliquid supply 12. During the beverage production process, liquid, moreparticularly cooled and carbonated drinking water, passes through thisliquid connection from the liquid supply into the mixing chamber 8.Furthermore, during the beverage production process, beverage substance7 passes from the reservoir 6 through the transfer opening 9 into themixing chamber 8. By mixing the beverage substance 7 with the liquid inthe mixing chamber 8 the beverage is formed which then leaves the mixingchamber 8 through the beverage outlet 11. The liquid supply 12 comprisesa water pipe which functions as a bypass to the cartridge 2. The liquidneed thus not be pumped through the reservoir 6 but only meets thebeverage substance 7 in the mixing chamber 8.

In order to transfer the beverage substance 7 from the reservoir 6 intothe mixing chamber 8 the cartridge 2 has a plunger 13 arranged in amovable manner in the reservoir 6. The plunger 13 comprises in thepresent example a disc-like element whose diameter correspondssubstantially to the diameter of the reservoir 6. The remaining gapbetween the reservoir wall and the plunger 13 is preferably sealed by asealing device 15 in the form of a flexible circumferential sealing lipor a circumferential flexible sealing bead.

The beverage preparation unit 3 has a cartridge discharge device 34 foractuating the plunger 13. The cartridge discharge device 34 has a ram 16(see FIG. 5) which is configured to transfer the plunger 13 from astarting position into a final position in order to press the beveragesubstance 7 into the mixing chamber 7. In the delivery state of thecartridge 2 the plunger 13 is arranged in the output position close tothe input side 4. The plunger 13 has on its side facing away from thebeverage substance 7 a ram receptacle 14 for holding the ram 16 (notshown in FIG. 1). After the beverage production process has been startedthe ram 16 is moved towards the input side 4 into the cartridge 2 andpasses into the ram receptacle 14. The ram 16 is then moved further intothe cartridge 2 whereby the plunger 2 is moved from the input side 4towards the output side 5 until it assumes a final position close to theoutput side 5. By moving the plunger 13 through the reservoir 6 thebeverage substance 7 is pressed out from the reservoir 6 into the mixingchamber 8 in order to mix with the liquid in the mixing chamber 8 toproduce the beverage. After the beverage production process is concludedthe ram 16 is driven out again from the cartridge 2 so that the empty orspent cartridge 2 can be removed again from the beverage preparationunit 3. In order that the ram 16 can be driven into the cartridge 2 onthe input side 4, the container has a ram opening 17 on the input side4. It is conceivable that the ram opening 17 is limited to the crosssection of the ram 16 or corresponds to the overall cross section of theplunger 13 or reservoir 6.

In order that the beverage substance 7 does not emerge from thecartridge 2 during storage and transport of the cartridge 2 and retainsthe aroma, the cartridge 2 is sealed in an air-, liquid- and aroma-tightmanner in the starting state. For this purpose, the cartridge 2 has asealing element 18 in the form of a thin sealing film at its input side4 as well as a further sealing element 19 in the form of a thin sealingfilm in the region of the output side 5, more particularly inside thetransfer opening 9. The two sealing films are configured in such a waythat they tear easily under pressure. On inserting the cartridge 2 intothe cartridge receptacle 10 the two sealing films are still intact. Assoon as the ram 16 moves into the cartridge 2 and thus comes intocontact with the sealing film on the input side 4, the sealing filmtears so that the ram 16 passes to the plunger 13. When the plunger 13is then pressed down the pressure inside the reservoir 6 is increaseduntil the sealing film in the transfer opening 9 tears so that thebeverage substance 7 passes into the mixing chamber 8.

It would also be optionally conceivable that a piercing element whichprojects in the direction of the sealing film inside the transferopening 9 is arranged inside the mixing chamber 8 so as to come intocontact with the sealing film when the sealing film expands towards themixing chamber 8 under the pressure building up in the reservoir 6 sothat the sealing film is torn through contact of the expanded sealingfilm with the piercing element, or tearing is at least enhanced.

The cartridge receptacle 10 has in the region of the input side 4 anupper form-fitting element 20 and in the region of the output side 5 alower form-fitting element 21. The upper and the lower form-fittingelement 20, 21 are designed so that the cartridge 2 can be arrangedthrough vertical movement between the two form-fitting elements 20, 21in the cartridge receptacle 10 and are held in this position withform-fitting engagement by the two form-fitting elements 20, 21 orbetween the two form-fitting elements 20, 21. The lower form-fittingelement 21 has for this purpose a dished socket which is adapted to theouter shaping of the underside of the cartridge. The upper form-fittingelement 20 has two lateral detent elements 22 which are spring-tensionedtowards the cartridge 2 and during insertion of the cartridge 2 engagewith form-fitting and force-fitting engagement in two correspondinglateral sockets 24 of the cartridge 2 which function as counter detentelements 23. The cartridge 2 is thus fixed inside the cartridgereceptacle 10 during the beverage production process.

FIG. 2a shows a detailed view of the cartridge 2 according to the firstexemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this perspective viewthe plunger 13 can be seen on the upper side of the cartridge 2 andoccupies the entire cross section of the reservoir 6. The plunger 6 issealed at its edge from the reservoir wall with the circumferentialsealing device 15 in the form of a flexible circumferential sealing lipor a circumferential flexible sealing bead.

The sealing element which extends over the plunger and seals thereservoir at the top or from the input side 4 in an aroma-tight manneris configured as a thin transparent sealing film which can be easilypierced by the ram and can therefore not be clearly seen in FIG. 2 a.

A laterally protruding flange 25 can be seen on the upper edge of thereservoir wall and has the two lateral sockets 24 in the form ofrecesses. When inserting the cartridge 2 into the cartridge receptacle10 the counter detent elements 23 engage in these recesses.

At the lower end of the reservoir 6 the cartridge 2 has the mixingchamber 8. The beverage outlet 11 as well as the quick-fit coupling 26can be seen in FIG. 2 a. It can be seen that in the present example thequick-fit coupling 26 consists of a tubular socket in which or overwhich the associated pipe end of the liquid supply 12 is arranged inorder to couple the mixing chamber 8 with the liquid supply.

FIG. 2b shows a detailed view of details of the beverage preparationunit 3 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. This perspective view shows on one side the liquid supply 12which is designed in the form of a pipe bypassing the cartridge 2 tosupply the liquid, and also the cartridge receptacle 10 in the form ofthe upper and lower form-fitting elements 20, 21. The lower form-fittingelement 21 is adapted to the outer contour of the underside of themixing chamber 8 and has a recess both for the beverage outlet 11 andfor the quick-fit coupling 26.

FIG. 2c shows a diagrammatic view in which the cartridge 2 illustratedin FIG. 2a is inserted into the beverage preparation unit 3 illustratedin FIG. 2 b.

The beverage preparation unit 3 is either a separate stand-alone machineor a part of a refrigerator (not shown). It is conceivable by way ofexample that the beverage preparation unit 3 is built into the front ofsuch a refrigerator. The liquid supply 12 is preferably fed with liquidwhich is previously cooled by the cooling unit (not shown). The coolingunit is then in turn either part of the beverage preparation unit 3 (inthe case of the stand-alone machine) or part of the refrigerator whichis in active connection with the beverage preparation unit 3. In thecase of the stand-alone machine the cooling unit can be a compressorcooling unit, an absorber cooling unit or a thermo-electric chiller.

The liquid supply 12 is furthermore optionally supplied with liquidwhich was previously admixed with carbon dioxide by a carbonator (notshown). In this way soft drinks admixed with carbon dioxide can beproduced. The carbonator is preferably part of the beverage preparationunit 3 wherein the carbonator more particularly has a receptacle for areplaceable CO₂ cartridge and where applicable a supply device foradmixing the liquid with CO₂ from the CO₂ cartridge.

FIG. 3 shows the system 1 and the method for the production of abeverage according to an exemplary second embodiment. The situation isshown at the moment when the plunger 13 is transferred by means of thecartridge discharge device 34 from its starting position close to theinput side 4 into its final position close to the output side 5 in orderto transfer the beverage substance 7 from the reservoir 6 into themixing chamber 8. In this example in order to move the plunger 13 excesspressure is produced in the cartridge 2 or in the reservoir 6 above theplunger 13 whereby the plunger 13 moves in the direction of the mixingchamber. The rising pressure below the plunger 13 leads (as describedabove) to the further sealing element 19 tearing and thus to thetransfer opening 9 being released. When the plunger 13 has occupied thelower final position the supply of compressed air is interrupted againso that the cartridge 2 can be removed again after completion of thebeverage production process.

To produce the excess pressure the by means of the cartridge dischargedevice 34 is fitted here with a replaceable compressed air cartridge orwith a compressor. In the case where the beverage preparation unit 3 hasin any case a carbonator (see above) which comprises a CO₂ cartridge,this CO₂ cartridge is preferably simultaneously also used as acompressed air source for the cartridge discharge device.

FIG. 4 shows the system 1 and the method for the production of abeverage according to the first embodiment shown at the beginning inFIG. 1.

In this first embodiment the plunger 13 is not moved from the startingposition into the final position by excess pressure, as in the secondembodiment, but by the ram 16. The ram 16 which by means of thecartridge discharge device 34 is inserted from above into the cartridge2 then pierces through the sealing element 18 and passes into the ramsocket 14. The plunger is then moved towards the mixing chamber 8 bymoving the ram 16 further inwards. The further sealing element 19 ishereby torn and the beverage substance 7 passes into the mixing chamber8. Once the beverage production process has been completed the ram 16 isagain driven out of the cartridge 2 so that the user can remove thecartridge 2 from the beverage preparation unit 3. The ram 16 is eitherrigid and is introduced vertically or inclined on a straight line fromabove.

Alternatively, the ram 16 is semi-rigid or flexible and is introducedfrom above into the cartridge 2 over a curved line so that thestructural height of the beverage preparation unit 3 can be reduced. Itis conceivable that the ram 16 is introduced automatically, by way ofexample by means of a motor, or handle or lever of the cartridgedischarge device 34, which handle or lever is to be operated manually bythe user.

FIG. 5 shows a system 1 and a method for the production of a beverageaccording to an exemplary third embodiment of the present invention. Thethird embodiment of the present invention is essentially the same as thefirst embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 a, 2 b, 2 c and4.

In the beverage preparation unit 3 according to the third embodiment thecartridge discharge device 34 has an electric drive 27. The electricdrive 27 comprises more particularly an electric motor 28 (by way ofexample a three-phase asynchronous machine or a three-phase synchronousmachine) which drives a drive axis 29. A primary pinion 30 is seated onthe drive axis 29. The primary pinion 31 meshes with a secondary pinion32. The secondary pinion 32 has an inner gear rim which engages with athreaded spindle 33. The secondary pinion 32 is held in a guiding unit25 which guides the threaded spindle 33 in rotation and longitudinaldisplacement (in a vertical direction). The threaded spindle 33represents at the same time the ram 16. By rotating the drive axis 29 bymeans of the electric motor 28 the secondary pinion 31 is turned anddepending on the turning direction the threaded spindle 33 moves down,thus into the cartridge 2, or upwards, thus out from the cartridge 2. Inthis way the plunger 13 can be moved from the starting position into thefinal position.

Alternatively, the drive comprises an electric linear motor with apinion which sits on a drive shaft of an electric motor and engages in agear rack, wherein the gear rack is coupled with the ram 16 or isalready part of the ram 16. By turning the pinion, the gear rack ismoved and thus the ram is moved into the cartridge or moved out from thecartridge.

FIG. 5 likewise clearly shows the upper form-fitting elements 20 whichengage laterally on the cartridge 2. The upper form-fitting elementseach comprise a detent element 22 which each engage by means of acompression spring 34 in a form-fitting and force-fitting manner intothe corresponding recess 24 on the cartridge 2 in order to fix thecartridge 2 reversibly in the cartridge receptacle 10 at least duringthe beverage production process.

FIGS. 6a and 6b show a system 1 and a method for the production of abeverage according to an exemplary fourth embodiment of the presentinvention. The fourth embodiment essentially resembles the second andthird embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, wherein a screen element40 in the form of a bellows 41 is arranged inside the cartridge 2. Thebellows 41 is attached to the output side 4 of the cartridge 2. Thebeverage substance 7 is arranged inside the bellows 41 so that thescreen element 40 is always between the cartridge discharge device 34and the beverage substance 7 and the cartridge discharge device 34 isisolated from the beverage substance 7 by means of the screen element40. This prevents recontamination of the beverage preparation machine 3by the cartridge discharge device 34. In order that it is neverthelesspossible to empty the reservoir 6 the screen element 40 is flexible andformed as a bellows 41. On emptying the reservoir 6 during the beverageproduction process the screen element 40 is moved towards the outputside 5 by means of the cartridge discharge device 34 either by a ram 16or by means of compressed air so that the beverage substance 7 istransferred from the reservoir 7 in the direction of the mixing chamber8. The bellows 41 then collapses. The bellows 41 is more particularlymade from a liquid-impermeable film material.

FIGS. 7a and 7b show a system 1 and a method for the production of abeverage according to an exemplary fifth embodiment of the presentinvention. The fifth embodiment essentially resembles the fourthembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6a and 6 b, wherein a screen element 40is arranged inside the cartridge 2 not in the form of a bellows 41 butin the form of a soft bag element 42. Unlike the bellows 41 the bagelement 42 does not ordinarily collapse but is simply compressed by thecartridge discharge device 34. The bag element 42 is more particularlymade from a liquid-impermeable film material. As with the bellows 41 thebag element 42 is attached on the output side 4 of the cartridge 2whilst the beverage substance 7 is arranged inside the bag element 42.

The present teachings envision any of the following features of a systemfor the production of a beverage, such as a cold beverage, a cartridgefor a system, and/or a beverage preparation unit in any combination: asystem for the production of a beverage, more particularly a coldbeverage, comprising a cartridge which has a reservoir filled with abeverage substance, and a beverage preparation unit having a cartridgereceptacle in which the cartridge can be reversibly inserted, and acartridge discharge device which causes at least partial transfer of thebeverage substance from the reservoir into a mixing chamber; thebeverage preparation unit furthermore comprises a liquid supply whichopens into the mixing chamber; the system comprises a movable plungerarranged inside the reservoir and can be transferred from a startingposition into a final position by means of the cartridge dischargedevice; the plunger is arranged in the starting position close to theinput side; the plunger is moved in the final position towards theoutput side; the plunger is arranged as part of the cartridgepermanently in the reservoir or can be introduced as part of thecartridge discharge device into the reservoir after the cartridge hasbeen inserted into the beverage preparation unit; the plunger has asealing device, more particularly in the form of a flexiblecircumferential sealing lip or sealing bead, which seals a gap between awall of the reservoir and the plunger; the cartridge discharge devicecomprises a movable ram which can be inserted on an input side of thecartridge into the cartridge in order to press the beverage substanceout from the cartridge on an output side of the cartridge; thecartridge-side end of the ram comprises the plunger; the cartridge-sideend of the ram is provided for interacting with the plunger arranged inthe cartridge in such a way that during insertion of the ram into thecartridge the ram meets the plunger located in the starting position andis then moved by the ram into the final position; the cartridge has inthe region of the insert side a sealing element which is opened byinserting the plunger wherein more particularly the sealing element hasa sealing film which tears as the plunger is introduced; sealing film isarranged between the plunger located in the starting position, and thebeverage substance, so that the sealing film is torn by the plunger asthe ram is inserted; the plunger is arranged in the starting positionbetween the sealing element and the beverage substance so that thesealing film is torn by the ram as the ram is inserted; the beveragepreparation unit has a guiding unit for the motor-driven feed of the raminto the cartridge wherein the guiding unit for the ram comprises astraight or curved guide element for inserting the ram; the guiding unithas an electric or hydraulic linear motor and more particularly aspindle drive; the ram is of a rigid, semi-rigid or flexible design; thecartridge discharge device comprises a compressed air source for blowingcompressed air into the reservoir on an input side of the cartridge; thesystem is more particularly configured in such a way that the beveragesubstance is pressed directly out from the reservoir by the compressedair, or that the plunger is transferred from the starting position intothe final position by the compressed air; the cartridge discharge devicecomprises a negative pressure device for drawing the beverage substanceout from the reservoir by means of negative pressure; the system is moreparticularly configured in such a way that the beverage substance issucked directly out from the reservoir by the negative pressure, or thatthe plunger is transferred from the starting position into the finalposition by the negative pressure; the mixing chamber has a beverageoutlet through which the beverage formed from mixing the beveragesubstance with the liquid is dispensed; the system is preferablyconfigured in such a way that the beverage can be directed from thebeverage outlet directly into a portable vessel; wherein the liquidsupply is fed with liquid which is cooled by a cooling unit wherein thecooling unit is part of the beverage preparation unit or of a separaterefrigerator which is in active connection with the beverage preparationunit; the cooling unit is a compressor chiller unit, absorber chillerunit or a thermo-electric chiller; the liquid supply is fed with liquidwhich is admixed with carbon dioxide by a carbonator; the carbonator ispart of the beverage preparation unit; the carbonator has a receptaclefor a CO₂ cartridge and a supply device for admixing the liquid with CO₂from the CO₂ cartridge; the mixing chamber is formed as part of thereplaceable cartridge; a further sealing element is arranged between thereservoir and the mixing chamber and is opened during insertion of thecartridge into the cartridge receptacle or during activation of thecartridge discharge device; the further sealing element comprises asealing film which is opened, and more particularly torn, by a rise inpressure in the reservoir during transfer of the plunger from thestarting position into the final position; the mixing chamber has aquick-fit coupling for connecting the mixing chamber with the liquidsupply when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge receptacle; thequick-fit coupling comprises a coupling pipe and a coupling socket whichreceives the coupling pipe in the coupled state; the coupling pipeand/or the coupling socket comprises a seal; in the coupled state thecoupling pipe engages with detent action in the coupling socket; thecoupling pipe is part of the beverage preparation unit and the couplingsocket is part of the mixing chamber; the cartridge receptacle comprisesa form-fitting element which holds the cartridge in a form-fittingmanner; the cartridge is preferably held additionally by force-fittingaction in the cartridge receptacle; the form-fitting element comprisesat least one spring element and/or detent element which is compressedand/or engaged on inserting the cartridge into the cartridge receptacle;the cartridge receptacle preferably has a lead-in chamfer and/orpositioning aid; the cartridge receptacle comprises an upperform-fitting element which holds the cartridge in the region of itsinput side, and a lower form-fitting element which holds the cartridgein the region of the output side and/or the mixing chamber; thecartridge receptacle is configured in such a way that the cartridge hasbetween the upper form-fitting element and the lower form-fittingelement a diameter which is greater than or smaller than the diameter inthe region of the upper and lower form-fitting elements; inside thecartridge there is arranged a screen element on which the cartridgedischarge device acts in order to transfer the beverage substance fromthe reservoir into the mixing chamber; the screen element is arrangedbetween the cartridge discharge device and the beverage substance; thescreen element is a bellows or a soft bag element arranged inside thereservoir; the beverage substance is arranged inside the bellows or thesoft bag element; the bellows or the soft bag element extends in thestarting state from the output side at least partially parallel to thecartridge wall up to the input side and is moved by the cartridgedischarge device towards the output side; a cartridge for a system forthe production of a beverage wherein the cartridge can be inserted intoa cartridge receptacle of a beverage preparation unit; the cartridge hasa reservoir which is filled with a beverage substance; the cartridge hasa plunger which is arranged in the reservoir and which can be movedbetween a starting position close to an input side of the cartridge, anda final position which is disarranged from the input side towards anoutput side; the plunger has a sealing device, more particularly in theform of a flexible circumferential sealing lip which seals a gap betweena wall of the reservoir and the plunger; the plunger has a ram socketfor receiving a ram of the beverage preparation unit; the plunger isconfigured to be transferred from the starting position into the finalposition by inserting the ram into the reservoir so that the beveragesubstance is directed from the reservoir into a mixing chamber arrangedin the liquid direction behind the reservoir and more particularlyunderneath the reservoir; the cartridge has in the region of the insertside a sealing element which is opened by the insertion of the plunger;the sealing element more particularly comprises a sealing film whichtears as the plunger is inserted; the cartridge has a mixing chamberwhich can be brought into liquid connection with a liquid supply of thebeverage preparation unit; the mixing chamber has a beverage outletthrough which the beverage which is formed from mixing the beveragesubstance with the liquid is dispensed; the system is configured in sucha way that the beverage can be introduced from the beverage outletdirectly into a portable vessel; the mixing chamber has a quick-fitcoupling for connecting the mixing chamber to the liquid supply; betweenthe reservoir and the mixing chamber there is arranged a further sealingelement which is opened during insertion of the cartridge into thecartridge receptacle or during activation of the cartridge dischargedevice; the further sealing element comprises a sealing film which isopened and more particularly torn by a rise in pressure in the reservoirwhen transferring the plunger from the starting position into the finalposition; the cartridge has at least one connecting element which duringinsertion of the cartridge into the beverage preparation unit interactswith the cartridge receptacle in order to hold the cartridge in thecartridge receptacle; the connecting element comprises an insert elementwhich engages in a form-fitting element, more particularly in the formof a spring and/or detent element; the cartridge comprises an upperconnecting element in the region of the input side and a lowerconnecting element in the region of the output side and/or the mixingchamber; the cartridge has in an intermediate region between the inputside and the output side a diameter which is greater than or less thanthe diameter of the cartridge in the region of the input side and/oroutput side; the diameter of the cartridge in the region of the inputside is substantially identical to the diameter of the cartridge in theregion of the mixing chamber and/or the output side; a screen element isarranged inside the cartridge; the screen element preferably comprises abellows or a soft bag element arranged inside the reservoir; thebeverage substance is arranged inside the bellows or the soft bagelement; a beverage preparation unit for a system for the production ofa beverage, wherein the beverage preparation unit has the cartridgereceptacle in which the cartridge can be reversibly inserted, acartridge discharge device which causes an at least partial transfer ofthe beverage substance from the reservoir into a mixing chamber, and theliquid supply which opens into the mixing chamber; the beveragepreparation unit comprises a cooling unit for cooling a liquid which issupplied to the liquid supply; the cartridge discharge device has amovable ram which can be inserted into the cartridge on the input sideof the cartridge in order to press the beverage substance out from thecartridge on an output side of the cartridge; the beverage preparationunit has a guiding unit for the motor-driven feed of the ram into thecartridge; wherein the guiding unit of the ram comprises a straight orcurved guide element for inserting the ram; the guiding unit has anelectric or hydraulic linear motor and more particularly a spindledrive; the beverage preparation unit comprises the mixing chamber; themixing chamber can be removed from the rest of the beverage preparationunit.

The present teachings also envision a method for producing a beveragewith a cartridge system having any of the following steps or elements inany combination: inserting a cartridge filled with a beverage substanceinto a cartridge receptacle of a beverage preparation unit; transferringthe beverage substance from a reservoir of the cartridge into a mixingchamber by means of a cartridge discharge device; feeding a liquid intothe mixing chamber by means of a liquid supply; discharging thebeverage, produced in the mixing chamber by mixing the beveragesubstance with the liquid, by means of a beverage outlet; wherein thebeverage substance is pressed by a plunger out from the reservoir intothe mixing chamber by moving the plunger from a starting position into afinal position by means of the cartridge discharge device; wherein theplunger is moved by means of a cartridge discharge device in the form ofa ram acting on the plunger or by means of compressed air; wherein theram is introduced into the cartridge motor-driven by means of a guidingunit and acts on the plunger in order to move the plunger from thestarting position into the final position; wherein the beveragesubstance is transferred from the reservoir into the mixing chamber bycompressed air or negative pressure; wherein the liquid is cooled and/orcarbonated prior to entering into the mixing chamber; wherein a sealingelement sealing the cartridge is opened as the ram is introduced intothe cartridge; wherein the sealing element preferably comprises asealing film which is torn by the ram; wherein a further sealing elementwhich between the reservoir and the mixing chamber is opened bytransferring the beverage substance in the direction of the mixingchamber; wherein the further sealing element preferably comprises asealing film which is torn by the rise in pressure in the reservoir;wherein the cartridge discharge device acts on a screen element arrangedinside the cartridge in order to transfer the beverage substance fromthe reservoir into the mixing chamber; wherein the screen element isfolded or compressed during this action.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

1 System

2 Cartridge

3 Beverage preparation unit

4 Input side

5 Output side

6 Reservoir

7 Beverage substance

8 Mixing chamber

9 Transfer opening

10 Cartridge receptacle

11 Beverage outlet

12 Liquid supply

13 Plunger

14 Ram socket

15 Sealing device

16 Ram

17 Ram opening

18 Sealing element

19 Further sealing element

20 Upper form-fitting element

21 Lower form-fitting element

22 Detent element

23 Counter detent element

24 Receptacle

25 Flange

26 Quick-fit coupling

27 Electric drive

28 Electric motor

29 Drive axis

30 Primary pinion

31 Secondary pinion

32 Threaded spindle

33 Compression spring

34 Cartridge discharge device

35 Guiding unit

40 Screen element

41 Bellows

42 Bag element

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system for production of a beveragecomprising: a cartridge which has a reservoir filled with a beveragesubstance; and a beverage preparation unit having a cartridge receptaclein which the cartridge can be reversibly inserted, and a cartridgedischarge device which causes at least partial transfer of the beveragesubstance from the reservoir into a mixing chamber; wherein the beveragepreparation unit furthermore comprises a liquid supply which opens intothe mixing chamber; wherein the cartridge receptacle comprises an upperform-fitting element which holds the cartridge in a region of its inputside, and a lower form-fitting element which holds the cartridge in aregion of an output side and/or the mixing chamber; wherein thecartridge receptable is configured in such a way that the cartridge hasbetween the upper form-fitting element and the lower form-fittingelement a diameter which is greater than or smaller than a diameter inthe region of the upper and lower form-fitting elements.
 2. The systemas claimed in claim 1, wherein the cartridge discharge device comprisesa compressed air source for blowing compressed air into the reservoir onthe input side of the cartridge, wherein the system is configured insuch a way that the beverage substance is pressed directly out from thereservoir by the compressed air, or that a plunger is transferred from astaring position into a final position by the compressed air.
 3. Thesystem as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mixing chamber has a beverageoutlet through which the beverage formed from mixing the beveragesubstance with liquid is dispensed, wherein the system is configured insuch a way that the beverage can be directed from the beverage outletdirectly into a portable vessel.
 4. The system as claimed in claim 1,wherein the liquid supply is fed with liquid which is cooled by acooling unit wherein the cooling unit is part of the beveragepreparation unit or of a separate refrigerator which is in activeconnection with the beverage preparation unit.
 5. The system as claimedin claim 1, wherein the liquid supply is fed with liquid which isadmixed with carbon dioxide by a carbonator.
 6. The system as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the mixing chamber has a quick-fit coupling forconnecting the mixing chamber with the liquid supply when the cartridgeis inserted into the cartridge receptable.
 7. The system as claimed inclaim 6, wherein the quick-fit coupling comprises a coupling pipe and acoupling socket which receives the coupling pipe in a coupled state,wherein the coupling pipe and/or the coupling socket comprises a sealand/or wherein in the coupled state the coupling pipe engages withdetent action in the coupling socket, and/or wherein the coupling pipeis part of the beverage preparation unit and the coupling socket is partof the mixing chamber.